BROOKE
HANSON TARGETS OLYMPIC BERTH
Melbourne-based breaststroker Brooke Hanson
has her sights set firmly on an Olympic
medal in Athens next year after claiming
silver at the 2003 World Swimming Championships
in Barcelona this year.
The disappointment of missing the 1996 and
2000 Olympic Games selection by a mere 0.1sec
and 0.4sec has not deterred Brooke Hanson
from achieving the Olympic dream.
At the tender age of 16, Brooke made her
international debut as the youngest member
of the 1994 Commonwealth Games Australian
swim team competing in Victoria, Canada.
She finished 4th in the 200m Breaststroke
at that meet.
Brooke’s next major selection was
on the Australian Swim Team for the 2001
World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan where
she broke the Australian Record in the semi-final
of the 50m Breaststroke, breaking the 1998
record held by Samantha Riley.
Her success after such a long time out of
the spotlight was an illustration of her
dedication and commitment, not just to swimming,
but to everything she does.
She returned to become the most successful
Australian swimmer at the 2001 Goodwill
Games in Brisbane, winning the 50 and 100m
breaststroke in the victorious Australian
Women’s Team.
At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester,
Brooke broke through for her first major
international medal when she took silver
in the 100m breaststroke. She then went
on to make the final of both the 100m and
200m breaststroke events at the 2002 Pan
Pacs in Yokohama. |
Last year Brooke qualified for the 2003
World Championships in Barcelona, where
she won silver in the 50m breaststroke and
finished sixth in the 100m final. It was
a breakthrough performance.
The Whitehorse resident established new
Australian records for the 50m breaststroke
in both the heat and the semi-final in Barcelona
before holding off world record holders
Zoe Baker (Great Britain) and Leisel Jones
(AUS) to win silver.
Brooke has represented Australia 20 times
in major international swimming events with
her major goals of selection to compete
in the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 Melbourne
Commonwealth Games teams.
Nunawading Swimming Club’s General
Manager, Gary Barclay said: “Brooke’s
ability to divide herself between the rigours
of elite sports training and competing,
and undertaking a tertiary education course
speaks volumes for the character of this
young lady”.
“Brooke, who is currently looking
to secure a major sponsor, is an ideal role
model for all of us and her determination
to train hard and do everything right to
achieve Olympic success is admired by all
who know her,” Barclay added.
Local businesses interested in supporting
Brooke in her quest to compete at the Olympic
Games are encouraged to contact Gary Barclay
on 03 9878 8590.
Brooke is currently preparing for the 2003
Qantas Skins in Sydney and 2003 World Cup
in Melbourne, both to be held in late November.
Further information:
General Manager, Nunawading Swimming Club
Mr Gary Barclay, Ph: 03 9878 7055
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